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From in-depth interpretive centers to museums of wildlife art and Western heritage, visitors will have plenty to see and do in The Real America's museums. The region is proud of its pioneering heritage and offers some of the most unique and worthwhile museums and American cultural attractions in the country. Take a look at our Musuems Itinerary that will take you through the museums and cultural centers of the Real America.

Idaho's museums are filled with artifacts, exhibits and interpretive history. Discover how Idaho's roots stem from fur traders, pioneer journeys and Basque boarding houses. Boise has several great museums, including the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, the World’s Center for Birds of Prey, the Basque Museum and the Idaho Historical Museum. In Pocatello, the Fort Hall Replica features buildings and saloons from pioneer days. Nearby at Fort Hall, do not miss the Shoshone Bannock tribal museum. The Bannock County Historical Museum is located right across the street from Fort Hall.

Montana boasts an impressive number of museum collections, and community art centers that have gained worldwide fame. In Bozeman, the Museum of the Rockies features three exhibit halls on dinosaurs.  It also houses objects of cultural and historic importance from the area including Plains Indian artifacts, pioneer exhibits, western art and “hands-on” exhibits. Great Falls features the work of premier cowboy artist C.M. Russell, along with other notable western artists, at the C.M. Russell Museum. It is also home to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

Wyoming is full of rich culture that no other state has preserved better than us. Visiting one of the many historical sites through out the state will stop you in your tracks. Decades of western travelers have learned about Wyoming and its past, only to discover something like never before. Come visit one of our attractions and see for yourself.

In Jackson, the National Wildlife Art Museum features a state-of-the-art 4438 square meter (51,000 square foot) building that includes 12 galleries, an auditorium, gift shop and monumental sculpture pieces. A guest terrace overlooks the National Elk Refuge. Cody features the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. The center is comprised of five world-class museums focused on cultural and natural history of the American West. It is located in Cody, Wyoming, a truly western town, just 50 miles from the East gate of Yellowstone National Park. Just outside of town is Old Trail Town, an authentic collection of original structures from the history of the Wild West. In Cheyenne, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum includes exhibits on the world’s greatest outdoor rodeo and an excellent collection of western art and restored horse-drawn wagons.

In South Dakota, the Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial has one of the region’s foremost collections of Indian artifacts as well as sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s beautiful studio home. In Keystone, tour the Rushmore-Borglum Story. Displays and galleries present the life of the famous creator of Mt. Rushmore. The Journey Museum in Rapid City is also a great stop.

You might also find the Museums Itinerary helpful.